Despite Gov. Bill Ritter’s bombshell announcement that he won’t seek re-election, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien will spend the 2010 legislative session much as she has spent the past three years: fighting for improvement in K-12 education and children’s health care.

If the Colorado budget crisis could be framed in terms of a biblical allegory, perhaps it would be the story of Joseph persuading Pharaoh to store grain during seven boom years to get Egypt through seven lean years.

As carolers sang “Silver Bells” from snow-covered sidewalks, candidates rang in the holiday season with a flurry of e-mails to supporters and reporters. Some candidates shared photos of their families, some offered blessings and wishes for a brighter New Year, and a few hoped the “spirit of giving” would land more campaign contributions under their Christmas tree.

State Rep. Kathleen Curry became Colorado’s only independent legislator this week when the Democrat changed her voter registration to “unaffiliated.” Curry filled out the paperwork on Monday at the Gunnison County Courthouse and then informed Gov. Bill Ritter and House Speaker Terrance Carroll of her decision.

“Terrance wasn’t happy about it, but he was respectful. He has always been respectful to me,” said Curry.

In an effort to reduce the number of houses sitting empty and abandoned in Colorado, on Tuesday Gov. Bill Ritter announced plans for a bill designed to reduce the length of time it takes to foreclose on some houses.

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, who served under President Bill Clinton, charmed a crowd of nearly 200 people at the Tattered Cover in LoDo Tuesday as she signed her new book, “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box,” (HarperCollins) and answered questions from an audience of mostly women.